Afnan Nehela
2007 MAX Fellow
Al-Noor Academy
, Mansfield, MA
In 2007, Afnan Nehela wrote her MAXCourage award-winning essay about her experience as a young Muslim woman in the post-9/11 landscape, and her decision to wear a hijab. Afnan writes:
“Winning the MAXCourage essay contest was a transformative experience that reinforced the significance of my voice at a young age. In my essay, I talked about the courage it took me to wear the hijab in a post 9/11 world. I took a leap of faith talking publicly about a personal issue, but MAXCourage shed light on my story and by extension many others in my community who were grappling with similar experiences. At a time when uplifting minorities and diversity was not trendy, MAXCourage amplified my narrative and empowered my truth. I am grateful to the mission and impact that MAXCourage has on students and the platform it provides to empower their stories and voices.”
Afnan joined MAXCourage’s Advisory Board in 2023.
To this day, Afnan remains passionate about uplifting the stories and challenges of marginalized and underrepresented communities through public policy. As the Communications Director and Policy Adviser for MA State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Afnan focuses on advocacy surrounding criminal justice reform, immigration, healthcare, and education. Prior to her work for the Massachusetts Senate, Afnan was a reporter and a filmmaker covering stories related to social justice and working to rectify false perceptions about Islam and Muslims. Afnan is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Policy at Brandeis University and holds a BA in Journalism and Psychology from UMass Amherst.